Redding loses power (again) following Route 107 crash

Libor Jany

Published 1:39 pm, Monday, November 5, 2012

REDDING -- A week after superstorm Sandy plunged their town into darkness, Redding residents once again found themselves without power when a landscaper's truck plowed into a utility pole in the Georgetown section of town Monday morning, officials said.

First Selectman Natalie Ketcham said that the truck driver was traveling on Route 107 when he apparently "missed a turn and crashed into a utility pole," knocking out power to more than 2,200 residents -- many of whom had only just gotten their lights turned back on.

"It took out the backbone circuit for the entire town," Ketcham said.

She did not identify the driver, who was not injured in the accident.

It was not immediately clear whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash. The road remained closed Monday morning.

Ketcham said that her office was flooded with calls from alarmed residents, some of whom "have only had (power) back for 24 hours. Some of them are very nervous."

She said that power crews were working hard to restore electricity to schools, which were running on backup generators.

There is no definitive timetable for power restoration for the rest of the town, she said.